PT Cruiser Convertible, Dodge Magnum production to end

[Flybrian]

Chrysler Ends Production of Two Models
Chrysler PT Cruiser Convertible Production Ends, With Dodge Magnum To Follow Shortly

01-04-2008 | Link to Original Article @ Edmunds

AUBURN HILLS, Michigan — Chrysler told Inside Line on Friday that production of the Mexican-built Chrysler PT Cruiser Convertible ended without any fanfare on December 21, while production of the Dodge Magnum is scheduled to stop in late March.

"Production of the Dodge Magnum is scheduled to stop at the end of the first quarter," said Roger J. Benvenuti, Chrysler manager of manufacturing and labor communications, in an e-mail. In a later phone conversation, he said that there were no plans to mark the end of production for the Magnum or the other vehicles. "We're letting them all just fade away," he said.

The two vehicles are part of a quartet of slow-selling products that Chrysler said it would pull the plug on in November in response to dealer pressure. Benvenuti said production of the Chrysler Pacifica ended in November. Chrysler Crossfire production ended on December 17 at the Karmann plant in Osnabruck, Germany.

"These actions reflect our new customer-driven philosophy and allow us to focus our resources on new, more profitable and appealing products," said Jim Press, Chrysler vice chairman and president. "Further, these product actions are all in response to dealer requests."

The demise of the Dodge Magnum is perhaps the most puzzling of the four, since the vehicle — described as an American station wagon with attitude — seemed to be well-received by the automotive media.

The Magnum shares underlying hardware and interior components with the popular Dodge Charger and Chrysler 300. Dodge produced a striking version of the Magnum in police livery and built a top-of-the-line Magnum SRT8, which received a face-lift for 2008 and is equipped with a 425-horsepower 6.1-liter Hemi V8. However, that version of the Magnum suffered from dismal fuel economy, delivering 13 mpg in city driving and 18 mpg on the highway, according to the EPA. The base Magnum with the 2.7-liter V6 delivers 18 mpg on the highway and 26 mpg on the highway, according to the EPA.

Sales of the Magnum in 2007 dropped 25 percent from the previous year.

[K.C.]

The 08 Magnum should be worth sometime in the future because there won't be many with that particular styling, especially the SRT-8 model.

[NOS2006]

I'm shocked the Magnum's done. WTF?

[CMG]

From what I have HEARD the Magnum is getting shut down to make way for Challenger purposes, it seems silly to me that the Magnum's underpinnings are LX based and therefore the car could be produced with little real cost, but what do I know about business!

:AH-HA_wink:

Magnum owners are all hoping the limited production numbers will drive the future prices up, but they are too mass produced IMO to do that...

Edited January 7, 2008 by CMG

[A Horse With No Name]

...Chrysler/Dodge/Jeep just have about 19 more models to kill and they should be all set...

Chris

[CMG]

...Chrysler/Dodge/Jeep just have about 19 more models to kill and they should be all set...

Chris

Start with Janice Dickinson....

:AH-HA_wink:

[VenSeattle]

I'm shocked the Magnum's done. WTF?

Uhm... no one is buying them... most sold are actually fleeted... why would it stay around?

[Chicagoland]

So many 'enthusiasts' don't know about the real car business. They think since the magazines like a car, or that "it's fast", that it will be around a long time. Question is, why don't they buy?

For collectibility, it takes over 25 years for any payback. Also, the Magnum isn't a GNX or Indy 500 Pace Car. Magnum more likely will be an "edsel" type of collector car.

[A Horse With No Name]

...the best hope for a rise in Magnum values in about 8-10 years is the general rise in scrap prices. right now an Escort or Cadaver (Cavalier) is worth about $250 in scrap. A Magnum should be worth $400 right now easy. Adjust for inflation and your all set.

Chris

[CMG]

...the best hope for a rise in Magnum values in about 8-10 years is the general rise in scrap prices. right now an Escort or Cadaver (Cavalier) is worth about $250 in scrap. A Magnum should be worth $400 right now easy. Adjust for inflation and your all set.

Chris

True.

That 55 Chev of yours would only be worth about $375 with your line of thinking though. The Magnum is worth MORE!

:AH-HA_wink:

[Duncan]

So many 'enthusiasts' don't know about the real car business. They think since the magazines like a car, or that "it's fast", that it will be around a long time. Question is, why don't they buy?

For collectibility, it takes over 25 years for any payback. Also, the Magnum isn't a GNX or Indy 500 Pace Car. Magnum more likely will be an "edsel" type of collector car.

Ahem.

Dodge Magnum SRT8 = 425hp = 0-60 in roughly 5 seconds = COLLECTIBILITY.

Also, let's compare...

Edsel:

Magnum:

Yeah, that's exactly the same. You're totally right.

Edited January 9, 2008 by Duncan

[Jazzhead]

The lack of a gas guzzler tax on the SRT-8 Magnum all by itself pays for several years of its "dismal" fuel economy. That one's indeed a future collectible.